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Korean:
Tukabseu 2, Tukabseu 3
TWO COPS is a 1993 South Korean action/comedy hit starring Ahn Sung-Kei (THE
SOUL GUARDIANS) and Park Jong-hoon (NOWHERE TO HIDE) that has yet to surface
on DVD. However, Spectrum is offering its two sequels together in this double
feature package. Kang Woo-suk's TWO COPS 2 finds drastically mismatched policemen
Kang (Park) and his rookie partner, Lee (Kim Bo-seong), at war with both the
underworld and each other. Kang (a screw-up who is always on the make) does
everything he can think of to get Kim either drummed off the force or, preferably,
killed. However, Lee (a black leather clad powerhouse who operates strictly
by-the-book and has the personality of Robocop) consistently walks into dangerous
situations and emerges completely unscathed. After government officials' homes
are targeted by a stealthy thief, Kang finds a fortune in diamonds stashed
in one suspect's apartment. Unfortunately for his new retirement plans, Lee
is on to him and threatens to have Kang locked up unless he helps take care
of the precinct's 52 unsolved cases. However, Lee's enthusiasm gets the better
of him when Kang tricks his partner into beating up the son of a rich man.
With Lee facing dismissal from the force, Kang is free to make up for lost
time (and, more importantly, bribes) but will he be able to live with his
conscience?
The majority of TWO COPS 2 is only fitfully amusing, closely following the
buddy cop comedy formula established in both Hollywood and Hong Kong movies
(Lau Kar-leung's TIGER ON THE BEAT, in particular). With virtually no plot
bridging the various incidents, the movie never really picks up speed but
there are some genuinely inspired bits here (particularly a running gag about
shaking down local underworld bosses) and the action is fairly well choreographed.
In Kim Sang-jin's equally episodic TWO COPS 3, Lee is now the veteran forced
to deal with a reckless newcomer. Worst of all, Choi (Kwon Min-jung) is also
a beautiful woman, a prime reason in his mind for the rookie to be kicked
off the force. Despite graduating at the top of her class from the police
academy, Choi performs miserably on her first day but rapidly improves, getting
her partner's back up. She really comes through with flying colors during
a kidnapping incident and, in the process, saves her superior's job. The chauvinistic
Lee eventually swallows his pride and just in time, too, as a dimwitted crimelord
has flooded Seoul with illegal firearms, turning the streets into shooting
galleries.
The cinematography and production values are improved and the action is even
more plentiful. However, like most sequels, the filmmakers are content to
merely rehash popular situations and gags (like Lee tasting the blood of a
murder victim to determine her time of death and his "terminator in bed"
escapades) and they are not amusing the second time around. There is also
a fair amount of humor devoted to bureaucratic incompetence and the political
situation, jests that probably went over well with the local audience but
do not really travel. A few good chuckles can be had (provided mostly by the
aforementioned gang leader, who definitely did not get where he is through
brain power) but the film gets by mainly on the basis of Kim's endearing mugging
and Kwon's fresh, energetic performance. The score includes part of the title
track from Tangerine Dream's soundtrack for SHY PEOPLE.
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ZOOM
Cover art courtesy Spectrum.
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Spectrum #SPD-835 (South Korea
label)
Coded for ALL Regions (The box carries the Region 3
symbol but the discs are actually all-region)
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Two Cops 2
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Dolby Digital
2.0
Sync Sound Korean Language
Optional English Subtitles
20 Chapters Illustrated In the Menu With (Tiny) Clips
Enhanced for 16:9 Displays
Letterboxed (1.79:1)
111 Minutes
Contains moderate violence, sexual content, coarse language, and brief
nudity |
DVD
menu courtesy Spectrum. |
Two Cops 3
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Dolby Digital 5.1 & 2.0
Sync Sound Korean Language
Optional English Subtitles
20 Chapters Illustrated In the Menu With (Tiny) Clips
Enhanced for 16:9 Displays
Letterboxed (1.79:1)
98 Minutes
Contains moderate violence, coarse language, brief drug use, and nudity |
DVD menu courtesy Spectrum.
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FILM
BOARD RATINGS AND CONSUMER ADVICE
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Two Cops 2
Singapore: PG [Passed With Cuts]
South Korea: 18
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Two Cops 3
Singapore (Theatrical): RA
Singapore (Video): PG [Passed With
Cuts]
South Korea: 18
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Each film appears on a separate dual layer platter
packaged in a regular-sized keep case. The presentations are adequate
but not on par with the best South Korean DVDs. Occasional speckles pop
up in TWO COPS 2 but, overall, this is a very acceptable rendering with
attractive hues and good detail. However, a slight vertical jitter is
apparent every time a shot changes, a problem inherent in the element
used for the transfer. The audio was apparently derived from the optical
track of a print and light crackling and surface noise can be heard during
quieter moments in the first couple of reels. The English subtitles are
passable, though a few lines are left untranslated. There are no extras,
and a poorly executed layer change at 55:44 might make you wonder if there
is something wrong with the disc. Right clicking on "Set Up"
in the main menu screen provides some DVD production credits but there
are no real extras. TWO COPS 3 has less wear and looks quite nice, save
for some blooming whites during exteriors (possibly inherent in the original
photography). The sound mix is a bit more detailed and effective, with
decent presence. A fullscreen theatrical trailer can be accessed by right
clicking on the main menu page (highlighting "Spectrum"). Right
clicking on "Set Up" again provides DVD production credits,
The keep case insert also makes reference to a TV spot but I couldn't
find it. There is a poorly chosen layer change at 50:54 that occurs right
in the middle of some dialogue. The same subtitle problem occurs here
(with one important exchange left untranslated) as well as the jitter,
though the latter only occurs on occasion.
TWO COPS 2 & 3 is
available at Poker Industries.
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Copyright
© John Charles 2000 - 2002. All Rights Reserved.
E-mail: mail@dighkmovies.com
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